Counselling Course

Hi Krankitty,
You are right in saying that the work in Childline and other similar services is not accepted by the college as regard clinical practical experience, it is accepted as shadowing placement only.

Hi Krankitty, The shadowing is in an observatory position. The degree that I am doing is "Counselling and addiction studies" so a shadowing placement would entail being in a treatment centre, being present at group therapy sessions and observing the workings of a treatment centre. I am about to do such a placement. However the N.C.I.I. has accepted that a placement in Childline is acceptable as a shadowing placement. I did Childline for the training it offers and the practical experience. Next year when I will be in the 4th and final year of the degree I will have to do 110 hours of a practical clinical placement. I hope to do this in the same treatment centre in which I will have done 2 weeks shadowing. This 110 hours will count towards the 450 hours required to become an accredited member of the I.A.A.A.C.
Is it for a degree that you are studying? have you completed the course yet or are you still at it?
Thierry

krankykitty wrote: »

We didn't do a shadowing placement.. What did it entail? I presume there was an element of watching/listening to someone else working, did you actually shadow people doing face to face counselling?

Some courses are looking for this. I have posted about it before. I have no problem with having a student on a clinical placement. However, my boss have come to twice with that type of request. The student sits in on the session. No chance, it's not happening in my clinic, though I know our yooung persons programme facilitated it. It's just appalling. Either they are ready to see clients under supervision or send them back to me when they are ready to do so.

Krankitty, congrats on finishing your degree course, i bet you' re well happy. I hope you exam results will come back brilliant.
Odyseus, indeed sitting in private sessions is unacceptable as part of a shadowing placement. however i think it is ok to sit in a groupt therapy session in a treatment centre (I will be doing that soon). I am not unfamiliar with addiction and dependency and have a great understanding of it.

Hi Odisseyus, I totally understand your point of view about sitting in on individual sessions. I also can' t imagine that a client would feel comfortable in this position. Same about the videoing of sessions.
By background in addiction is "been there, done that" and feel I lucky to have come out the other side.
From what you say I presume that you are currently working in the counselling/psychotherapy field. What do you mean when you say that as regards addiction "the more you learn the less you understand"?
I presume that too many theories can get tangled up and even an ex-addict (if there is such a thing) can forget the rawness of it all when the head becomes crammed with theories.

thierrym wrote: »

Hi Odisseyus, I totally understand your point of view about sitting in on individual sessions. I also can' t imagine that a client would feel comfortable in this position. Same about the videoing of sessions.
By background in addiction is "been there, done that" and feel I lucky to have come out the other side.
From what you say I presume that you are currently working in the counselling/psychotherapy field. What do you mean when you say that as regards addiction "the more you learn the less you understand"?
I presume that too many theories can get tangled up and even an ex-addict (if there is such a thing) can forget the rawness of it all when the head becomes crammed with theories.

Hi Thierrym, no what I mean is addiction is such a complex issue, I have been working and teaching in the addiction field for over 12 years; working in different facilities. I currently work with the Addiction Services. By complex I mean that there is so much more to treatment than merely drug status.

I have people in therapy will may never be clean, the issues I see would include:
Chaotic livestyles,
Dual diagnoisis,
Various traumas,
Terminal illnesses,
Abusive histories,
Child protection issues,
Criminality,
Sex work,
Anti Social Behaviour,
Homelessness,
Suicidie,

The list just goes on, as I sure you know from you studies treatment is not just about being clean or not. So that is what I mean when I say the more I know the less I understand. Human subjectivity is so complex and each person who sits in the chair in my office is different that I will never know enough.

I know peole who are in this game over 25 years and they still feel they lack the skills and understanding to work with some cases. That is the beauty of addiction for me and a lot of the people I know and work with the drug use is only the tip of the iceberg and merely a symptom of deeper issues.

The video sessions would be big in CBT, just not my cup of tea; but it works for some people. No I don't mean what you said in the last sentence. I believe you need a good theory to work, and having a history of addiction or being recovering if the person uses that term does not come into it. That only gives a person an insight in their addiction, not the person in front of them.

I did five years of analysis as part of my training, it does not apply to the person I'm treating if you get my point. I say this not in reference to your post, I have said it here many times. Some people feel that being in revcovery gives them a better insight, I personally don't believe, the only time I see it as a problem is when the person sees their way as the only way.

Anyway I have to head now, good luck with your studies.


Edit: I am a member myself, but the IAAAC is not the best organisation. If you can look at trying to join a another professional body as well.

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

We do it in CBT. Guess it may have to do with the medical/health background of most CBT therapists. If medical students get to watch while a consultant does a rectal exam, the patient may be embarrassed but knows he is allowing it for the greater good. What better way for students to learn that to watch a competent professional at work, and discuss it afterwards?

And yeah, the students (and qualified professionals) often videotape sessions to show their supervisor. Helps maintain and improve standards.

All with the clients' consent, of course.

Yeah of course JC, that would be one of the reasons I hear arond it. The people I know who practice that way have a lot of positivve things to say about it. Just not my cup of cup, but each to their own.

If it's not accredited by a legitimate organisation, then you might be saving money but ultimately you might be wasting your time (which is money after all!) and if you want to work in this field you'll probably have to go back and do one of the other courses anyway. So it could end up being a false economy.

Just in case you are not aware, you might be eligible to claim tax back from your fees so it mightn't be quite as bad as it seems.

got tax refund for a part-time counselling degree in the N.C.I.I, Limerick

emnic wrote: »

Ok so I have applied for four courses in total - tcd doctorate in counselling psych which is my first choice, the diploma in the tivoli institute, the diploma is iicp, and the cbt diploma in Belfast cognitive centre. Not that I expect to be offered them all but I want to put together some thoughts on pros and cons... And would greatly appreciate advice!!!

Obviously the Trinity Doctorate is the best choice career wise, you know that the cons are the high cost (€12k a year right?) and it's full time.

The diploma in Belfast requires having a qualification in counselling already doesn't it? I didn't think it was an entry qualification.

IICP has the pro of only being 2 years and the con that you won't get into the ICP or get the ECP with that programme. It also has the, in my opinion significant, con that it is heavily reality therapy based which is one of the least evidence based of the CBT family of therapies. if you haven't read all of Glasser's books and Wubbolding's then I suggest reading them before committing to that course, you may find it compares poorly to other therapies.

The Tivoli is good.

Did you not consider DCU and their grad diploma/Masters which can then lead to a doctorate?